14 Objectives, 28 Days and a New You - Mission #7

Mission #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 and #6.

We are at the half way mark today...

MISSION #7 - EARN YOUR CHEAT MEAL

This mission involves a fast lesson in cheat meals.

Should you have that cheat day, that Chinese buffet, or that pie your granny made? 

Do you justify cheating on your nutrition with self-sabotaging thoughts like this:

• "I trained hard all week; I deserve a cheat meal."

• "Hey, I lost ½ a kilogram last week; I can afford to have that pie!"

Cut the flimsy rationalizations.

Did you do 5 hours of intense training this week? 

We're not talking throwing up 5 times from going too hard, but we also not talking 5 hours of low intensive activities like Yoga, Pilates and walking, but they can be a part of your 5 hours.

By the way we don’t class Pilates, Yoga and walking as intense activity.

It has other benefits but calorie expenditure isn't one of them. 

If the answer is yes then you may have a cheat meal once every 1 - 2 weeks. 

If the answer is no, then your for the sake of those jeans that are on the edge of fitting, you're best to leave it alone.

It's that easy to make the decision and it’s all in your control.

And if you do earn your cheat meal then make sure you have it on a training day so at least some of the calories will go towards recovery, off-setting some of the extra calories.

Further Reading:

The Cheat Meal Manifesto –

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/the_cheat_meal_manifesto

In Defence of Cheat Days –

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/in_defense_of_cheat_days

Work Book Exercise: for 1 week keep a total food log and at the end of it add up all of your meals...if you have had something “bad” with more than 10% of your total meals, then you know the adjustments that need to be made